Manually adjustable pneumatic cartridge



United States Patent Inventor Walter Griffin Paige Pasadena, California Appl. No. 757,865

Filed Sept. 6, 1968 Patented Dec. 1, 1970 Assignee Burroughs Corporation Detroit, Michigan a corporation of Michigan MANUALLY ADJUSTABLE PNEUMATIC CARTRIDGE 14 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

U.S.C|... 137/594; 235/61.1 1:340/365; 235/200 lnt.Cl... i Fl6k 5/04; 006d I/02'. 006m l/12 Field of Search. 137/594 /4 L4 /0 Z lflllll lllllllll References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1951 Hickman 137/594UX 4/1961 Goldwater l37/594UX 1/1963 Plavan..... 340/365 12/1963 Avery 235/6l.l1 11/1964 Smith et al... l37/552.5X 3/1959 DiaZ 137/594 Primary Examiner-Henry T. Klinksiek Attorney-Christie, Parker and Hale v a a a ago lllllllm BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field ofthe Invention This invention relates to digital data transmitters and, more particularly, to manually adjusted input cartridges for use in such transmitters.

2. Description of the Prior Art Apparatus for translating data in perforated documents such as, for example, tabulating cards are well known. Data stored in such documents by means of perforation patterns is, however, permanently stored therein. Where particular data is to be transmitted by means of a transmitter designed only to transmit data stored in punched cards, a card must first be prepared which contains the particular data to be transmitted. Where a considerable amount of information is to be transmitted to a data processor and no existing punched cards manifest this information. much time, labor and expense may be lost in the production of such cards. Such production is particularly wasteful in situations where the card will be used only once. Thus, for example, if workers must regularly transmit to a data processor numeric information representative of the amount and kind of work devoted to particular projects, along with progress reports, much time could be saved if each man could set up and verify the information to be transmitted by simple manual adjustments immediately prior to such transmission. Where many persons are required to use the same data transmitter, the use of such a manually adjustable element would be particularly advantageous.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides such an element in the form of a manually adjustable cartridge. Among its advantages, the present invention provides a cartridge which is small and compact and one may be carried by each individual needing it. A pneumatic data transmitter can be used for translating and transmitting digital information setinto the cartridge. Manual adjustments made to the cartridge enable the data transmitter to transmit digital information in accordance with the adjustments. The cartridge may also be provided with facilities to enable an operator to visually verify the information to be transmitted prior to its actual transmittal.

A data transmitter in which data stored in the cartridge IS translated into serial signals for transmission over a two-wire line and which offers numerous advantages over previous data transmitters of this type is disclosed in my copending U.S. Pat. application entitled PNEUMATIC READING APPARATUS being Ser. No. 757,986 and filed on the same day as this application. Another advantage of the cartridge of the present invention is that it may be used in conjunction with the data transmitter of the copending application just referred to.

The preceding and other advantages of the present invention are achieved by means of a manually adjustable cartridge for use with a pneumatic reading apparatus. A housing is provided having a side containing a plurality of ports arranged in each of a plurality of columns. A member is rotatably mounted in the housing at each column and has a chamber therein coupled to the exterior of the housing. Each member contains a wall having a'plurality of openings therethrough to the chamber, each opening being positioned such that it is separately rotatable with the elongated member into register with one of the ports in the corresponding column. In this manner. a path is provided for the flow of a fluid from the coupling through the port which is in register to represent information BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a front elevation view of the manually adjustable cartridge and embodying the present invention. A portion of the housing is broken away to reveal one of the lower knobs, one of the openings in the housing and a portion of the elongated member in the opening;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the manually adjustable cartridge shown in FIG. 1 taken along the line 22; and

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view of the manually adjustable cartridge shown in FIG. 1 with the rotatable members removed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Refer now to the manually adjustable cartridge shown in FIGS. 1,2 and 3. The cartridge includes a cartridge housing or body 10. The housing 10 is generally rectangular shaped as seen in FIG. I and relatively thin as shown in FIG. 2. Eleven openings II are provided in the housing 10. The openings 11 are cylindrical shaped and run from the top towards the bottom of the housing 10 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Positioned in each of the l l openings 11 is a round elongated member 14. Each of the rotatable members 14 is rotatably mounted in the corresponding opening 11 and has a control or turning knob 15 connected to the end of a shaft 16 extending upwardly from each of the rotatable members 14. The lower portion 18 ofthe rotatable members 14 is circular in cross section and tubular shaped. The tubular-shaped portion is elongated and has 10 slots 20 positioned in a spiral pattern thereabout. Although ll openings and rotatable members are shown, any number can be used as desired. The pattern shown in FIG. 1 was chosen to keep the cartridge symmetrical and to stagger the knobs.

The rear surface 22 of the cartridge housing 10 is flat and has a plurality of air exits 24 arranged into 1 1 columns and 10 rows. Each column of air exits 24 is associated with, and is in alinement with, one of the rotatable members 14. The rows of air exits 24 are positioned on the rear side 22 such that each of the slots 20 in the rotatable member 14 can be rotated into alinement with a different one of the air exits 24 in the corresponding column. Thus, one slot is provided in the rotatable member 14 for each row of air exits 24 and the air exit 24in each row is so positioned so that the corresponding slot 20 in the rotatable member 14 can be rotated into alinement therewith. Actually, each air exit 24 has two holes therein. as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, to increase the amount ofair flow which can be passed between the inside of the tubular-shaped member portion 18 and the outside of the housing 10.

The tubular-shaped portions 18 stop short of the bottom of the openings 11. An air intake port 26 is provided in each of the columns of air exits. The air intake ports 26 are positioned near the bottom of the cartridge as shown in the FIGS. so that air may be passed through the air intake ports 26 into the inside of the corresponding tubular-shaped portion 18. Thus, the tubular-shaped portion 18 has a chamber therein which opens to the corresponding air intake port 26.

A detent mechanism 28 is provided for stopping the rotatable member 14 at each position wherein a slot 20 is in alinement with one of the air exits 24. The detent mechanism 28 includes a plurality of recesses or detents 32 around the upper portion of the rotatable member 14. A leaf spring 30 is provided for forcing a ball 34 into engagement with the detents 32 in the rotatable member 14. One ball 34 is provided for each of the rotatable members 14. The spring 30 has a fingerlike extension 30a for each of the rotatable members which extends up and forces the corresponding ball into engagement with the detents in the corresponding rotatable member. Screws 31 are provided for holding the spring 30 onto the housing 10.

Each rotatable member 14 has a surface 36 on which are displayed the numerals 0 through 9. One numeral is associated with each of the I0 slots 20. The numerals are used to identify the positions of each rotatable member 14. The numerals provide an indication when a slot 20 is in register with a corresponding air exit 24. The front side ofthe housing 10 as seen in FIG. 1 has a window for each of the rotatable members 14. The window 38 is constructed such that it reveals only the numeral corresponding to the slot 20 which is in register with its corresponding air exits 24.

Each of the rotatable members 14 is held in position by means of an individual key 40 which slides through an opening in the housing into a circular slot 42. The key 40 is retained in the housing by the detent spring 30. The circular slot 42 is machined around each of the rotatable members 14. Each key 40 fits into the slot 42 of the corresponding member 14 preventing it from moving axially in the housing 10.

in order to make a more compact cartridge. the openings 11 in the cartridge are positioned as close together as possible. In order to achieve this compact construction the knobs 15 are staggered, one knob being positioned in one plane and the adjacent knob being positioned in a second plane as seen in FIG I. To this end, the rotatable members with the lower knobs have a short shaft 13 as indicated by the solid line in FIG. 2 The rotatable members having the knobs in the upper plane have a longer shaft 13 as indicated by the dashed lines in FIG 2. The housing contains a circular shaped recess 17 for each of the lower knobs and a high shoulder 19 for each of the upper knobs 15.

In operation a user sets each of the rotatable knobs 15 to the correct position representing the desired information. The positions are indicated by the indicia on the members 14. The cartridge is then inserted into the data transmitter described in the above-identified copending patent application. The data transmitter serially applies a stream of air to the air intake ports 26 causing a stream of air to be passed into the chamber of the tubular-shaped members 18 and out through the slots 20 which are in register with the air exits 24. The particular air exit 24 which in each column provides a unique indication of the position of the corresponding rotatable member 14. The airstream passing out through the air exits 24 is received by the data transmitter and is translated into audible tones into other desired signals using fluidics. The data transmitter which translates the airstream preferably contains a whistle for converting each airstream into a different audible tone. However, other devices may be used to translate the airstream into an audible tone, for example, reeds may be used although the response time of the reeds is much slower than a whistle and a whistle is preferred.

It should be noted that all columns need not be adjustable. For example. some of the columns could be fixed for permanent identification purposes.

Although one example of the present invention has been shown by way of illustration, it should be understood that there are many other rearrangements and embodiments of the present invention within the scope of the following claims.

lclaim l. A manually adjustable cartridge for use with a pneumatic reading apparatus, comprising:

a housing having a side containing a plurality of first ports alined in each of a plurality of columns, the housing having a second port for each column; and

an elongated member rotatably mounted in the housing at each column and having a chamber therein opening to the corresponding second port, each member containing a wall having a plurality of openings therethrough to the chamber, each opening being positioned such that it is separately rotatable with the elongated member into register with one of the first ports in the corresponding column, thereby providing a path for air between the corresponding second port and the corresponding first port which is in register to represent information 2. A manually adjustable cartridge as defined in claim l including a detent mechanism for providing a stop at each position of the elongated member wherein an opening therein is in register with one of said first ports.

3. A manually adjustable cartridge as defined in claim 2 wherein said detent mechanism comprises an indentation m the elongated member corresponding to each of the plurality of openings and a spring actuated ball mounted in the housing for engaging said detents providing a stop for each of such openings when in register with a corresponding first port.

4. A manually adjustable cartridge as defined in claim 3 wherein said plurality of openings are disposed in a spiral about said elongated member so that the openings are separately registerable with the corresponding ports.

5. A manually adjustable cartridge as defined in claim 4 wherein said member contains a shoulder and including a key inserted through the housing into engagement with said shoulder for retaining said elongated member in said housing.

6. A manually adjustable cartridge as defined in claim 4 including a surface on each elongated member bearing an indicia associated with each of said openings for identifying when each is in register and a window in said housing positioned so as to reveal the indicia associated with the opening which is in register.

7. A manually adjustable cartridge as defined in claim 1 including a knob connected to each elongated member for manually rotating the same.

8. A manually adjustable cartridge for a pneumatic reading apparatus comprising:

a housing having a side containing a plurality of first ports alined in each of a plurality of columns, the housing having a second port for each column;

an elongated tubular member mounted in the housing at each column each providing a separate chamber opening to the corresponding second port, each tubular member having a wall containing a plurality of openings spirally disposed therearound and connecting to the chamber, each opening being positioned such that it is rotatable into register with a different first port in the corresponding column. and

means for rotating each tubular member so that an opening thereof is in register with a corresponding first port thereby providing a separate path of air from such port to the corresponding second port.

9. A manually adjustable cartridge for a pneumatic reading apparatus comprising:

a housing containing a plurality of cylindrical-shaped openings extending from the exterior into the interior thereof and having a side containing a plurality of first ports alined with each elongated opening, each of said ports extending into the corresponding opening, the housing having a second port near one end of each opening extending into the corresponding opening.

an elongated tubular member mounted each opening of the housing each providing a separate chamber opening to the corresponding second port, each tubular member having a wall containing a plurality of openings disposed therearound and connecting to the chamber, each opening being positioned such that it is rotatable with the corresponding member into register with a different first port in the corresponding opening, and

means for rotating each tubular member so that an opening thereof is in register with a corresponding first port thereby providing a separate path of air from such port to the corresponding second port.

10. A manually adjustable cartridge for a pneumatic reading apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said means for rotatmg comprises a knob and a member is connected to each elongated member for connection to the corresponding knob, the adjacent connecting members being of different lengths, such that the knobs can be staggered and overlapping one above the other providing a compact cartridge.

11. A manually adjustable cartridge for use with a reading apparatus. comprising:

a housing having a side containing a plurality of ports arranged in each of a plurality of columns; and

a member rotatably mounted in the housing at each column and having a chamber therein coupled to the exterior of said housing, each member containing a wall having a plurality of openings therethrough to the chamber, each opening being positioned such that it is separately rotatable with the member into register with one of the ports in the corresponding column, thereby providing a path for the flow of fluid from said coupling through said chamber to the port which is in register to represent information.

12. A manually adjustable cartridge as defined in claim 11 wherein said member is elongated.

including a port corresponding to each member through said housing to t providing such coupling.

he corresponding chamber passing thereby 

